Thousands of employees at Samsung Electronics, one of the world's leading smartphone and AI chip makers based in South Korea, are now extending an ongoing strike aimed at securing improved wages and benefits. The National Samsung Electronics Union, representing around 30,000 staff members which constitutes approximately a quarter of the workforce, has decided to prolong the industrial action after their discussions with management have not yielded any signs for upcoming negotiations.
Union Vice-President Lee Hyun-kuk stated that there had been no communication from Samsung's side since the strike commenced on Monday. The employees are demanding an increase of 3.5% to their base pay and a day off dedicated to celebrate the union’s establishment. Previously, management proposed a rise of only 3%, with the union now seeking an additional half percent increment due to inflationary pressures.
The strike involves approximately 6,500 employees this week. The union is also conducting sessions aimed at encouraging more workers to participate and has reportedly begun affecting production on certain chip manufacturing lines by causing a slowdown in equipment operations.
While the union remains hopeful of their success, Samsung Electronics refuted these claims, asserting that there had been no disruption on its production processes at the subsidiary level. The company emphasized its commitment to maintaining uninterrupted production and engaging in good faith discussions with the union.
This industrial action follows a previous one-day strike by employees using their annual leave, believed to be the first labour dispute at Samsung Electronics earlier this year after failed negotiations between workers' representatives and management. The current situation comes against a backdrop of increased union activities across major technology multinative corporations globally amid tense confrontations over working conditions.
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